New Ulm weekly review., 1887-11-23
reef, said one Of the men, viciously.
No hope OF that. answered an

reef, said one Of the men, viciously.
NO hope OF that. answered an
other.
Hes cleared for Guam by this
time. you may be sure
By the evening of the next day Dick
was nearing Barberton. It was all
over, and he had nothing to do but
to report his failure to his
friends. Ruin stared him in the
face, yet he dared not give way to
his despair. He must begin lie anew
without a farthing, and hindered by
his debt to his friend; for that money
lent at his entreaty, he felt bound to
repay. He must release Annie from
her promise now that he saw no
chance OF marriage before them. How
he repented of his trust in Floyd's
plausible story; and how useless re-
pentance was! Yet he spent the weary
hours of his journey in nothing else.
It was nearly dark when he reached
the outskirts OF the town. and he
hardly knew whether he should wei
come or shun the sight OF his fellow
men. The matter soon decided itself.
Coming from the house he saw several
fiickering lights which bobbed along IN
his direction. When they came near
he saw that they were "Barberton
lanterns" carried by seven or eight
men who were going to town. The
ignorant reader may ask what Bar
barton lanterns are. They are simply
constructed and indeed are not un-
known in more civilized regions; the
bottom knocked off a bottle, a piece
OF candle is fitted into the neck which
also serves for a handle, and the thing
is done. The light-bearers were near
ly all friends OF Dick, and as they
walked together he told them OF his
mlsfortunes, with which they deeply
sympathized.
"Who put you on to that reef?'
asked Charlie Ross, a lively young
mining expert.
"Jlm Floyd, do you know where
he is?" inquired Dick breathlessly.
If he could only catch him'
"No, my dear fellow. [ wish l did"
answered Charlie. 1.-THE claims that
man has salted defy belief I'll just
tell you how he did you"-there Char
lie paused to throw his lantern at q
dog which was barking at him from q
eanteen, then he continued "When
he crushed your bits of stone he had
in his pockets some pieces of good
gold quartz, and he took care that
they went into the pan when you
were looking at something else. I
don't doubt about his surprise at the
result; that's Z Floyd's way. That
quiet smile and take-it-or-leave-it
kind Of manner are his stock in trade,
and they've helped him no end. The
fortune that man has made, or ought
to have made, if he didn't fool it
away in drink! But don't hope to
nab him, old boy" added Charlie af.
fectionately. she's cleared. Barber
ton was getting too hot" His friends
sympathy was soothing to poor Dick,
and SO was the return to a social
life; but it could not help him
over his interview with Annie,
or his explanation to his for.
mer adviser, Mr.. Moore, who had re-
turned to Barberton. Before seeing
these two, however, Dick made inqui-
ries after Floyd, but found that Char
lie was correct. The cunning pros
pector had deluded so many new ar
rivals at De Kaap that a hurried de-
parture from those scenes had become
necessary O. week before. He had
doubtless removed himself to another
gold field, and there plies his trade OF
spider to numerous flies who. like
Dick, take q walk into his parlor. AS
soon as possible Dick went to see An
ME. choosing the time when she would
be alone. He found her looking as
bright as a summers day. and so
pleased to see him that at first he
could not get in a word about busi-
ness At length. however, she COM
planned of his looks. Why was he so
thin and worn, and seemed so sad?
Dick felt that it must all come out.
Il am in great trouble, DEAR" he fall
tered, "Floyd was rogue, he cheated
me awfully."
"Dear Dick, am SO sorry," said
Annie taking his hand in hers, she was
humane, though human. and did not
remark that she had told him SO.
Then her lover told his pitiful story
from the very beginning. He told of
his walk TO the reef with his happy
thoughts and hopeful visions. of the
snare into which he had fallen. OF his
toll, his lonely hours when he was
sustained by dreams of their future
happiness. his failure and utter ruin.
He told it bravely enough, even when
he came to the money he had borrow
ed, but when he tried to explain that
he must give her up, and go forth into
the world alone, his courage failed him.
He buried his face in his hands to
hide the tears he could not suppress,
though he strove with all his might.
Did any woman ever endure the sight
of her lovers tears? Annie at least
could not. She flung herself on her
knees beside him, and kissed his hands
as she could not Kiss his face
"Dick, dear Dick, look up. it's all
right, nothing is the matter, really.
You have been SO busy with your own
affairs that | thought | would keep
my little bit of luck back. Do you re
member that old Princess reef2 They
are working it profitably, and Mr..